As Lennok gave the invitation to the stadium’s security personnel and entered, he was promptly welcomed by a lavishly adorned corridor.
This was an executive general meeting, a rarity in decades.
It goes without saying that the secretaries assisting the chairman had meticulously arranged everything for this momentous occasion.
There were no visible signs indicating that this place was a sports stadium; instead, it felt as though he was standing in the heart of a magnificent palace.
Crystal chandeliers hung from the vaulted ceiling, casting a gentle radiance upon the floor.
Suddenly, a loud noise disrupted the serenity.
Thud!
“……”
As he entered the main hall, he sensed numerous eyes fixated on him from all directions.
Every one of these gazes carried a spectrum of emotions, vividly evident to him.
There was anger, weariness, disappointment, and frustration, alongside curiosity and interest… A whirlwind of intense emotions, regardless of their type or intensity.
This was a tribute to the arch-enemy who had been more proficiently crippling the cartel than anyone else for almost a month.
Lennok paid no mind to them, taking a seat designated with his name and directing his gaze toward the stage.
On the stage, as vast as a soccer field, figures occupied each of the four cardinal points, gazing downward in all directions.
Four colossal beings, making no effort to conceal their boundless mana.
A bald giant with dark skin adorned with intricate tattoos.
A muscular young man with snow-white hair.
A girl with hair that glowed fluorescent, her posture seemingly disinterested.
And a middle-aged woman in a dress, displaying a nervous disposition.
These were the four top executives commanding the colossal ship known as Cartel.
‘In order, McQueen, Virgil, Merlida, Kansoa… The entire board of directors is present.’
He was already familiar with Virgil, and he had a rough idea of who Merlida was.
The dagger Avid Yonsen had used at the last moment to kill Lennok.
According to information from the deep web, it was called the ‘Fang of Merlida,’ renowned for its formidable magic resistance.
Since it was highly unlikely that the fluorescent-haired girl possessed such a weapon, there was a strong likelihood that Merlida was not an ordinary human.
As for Kansoa, there wasn’t much information, except that she was a formidable practitioner of ice magic… But that detail seemed less significant.
Lennok’s sharp gaze shifted to the bald giant, the leader of the board of directors.
Clad in an aged robe, holding a weathered stone tablet, he exuded the air of an ascetic.
The tattoos on his skin seemed to shrivel against his wrinkled flesh, replaced by ornaments meant to disguise his age.
Parden McQueen, the founding president of Cartel.
The closest confidant of Olivera Ron Maze, who had been by her side for the longest time, and a loyalist who even held vice-presidential authority in times of emergency.
Originally a prominent monk in the Evatra mountains, he abandoned his vows and left the mountains after meeting Olivera.
The rituals and dark magic he developed through years of practice became his true power, contributing significantly to maintaining Olivera’s empire as his right-hand man.
His conservative approach to business management had been one of the major factors that propelled the loosely-knit Cartel to its current position.
Ironically, his self-preservation instincts eventually led to his betrayal of the organization he had nurtured.
“How ironic…”
Information pieced together through Evelyn and Jenny had only scratched the surface of his identity.
A direct subordinate of Girard Ojette, covertly controlling Cartel’s execution squad.
Parden McQueen was indeed the traitor who initially targeted Jenny’s bar, igniting internal strife within Cartel.
The real question was when Virgil would come to this realization…
[Everyone made it on time.]
Before Lennok could fully immerse himself in thought, a soft, gender-neutral voice resonated through the space.
A voice devoid of any significant pitch, so composed it almost seemed devoid of emotion.
As the assembled crowd raised their heads in search of the source of the voice, seven gusts of wind swirled around, gradually revealing the figure of a person.
Whoosh!
Her presence seemed as natural as if she had been there all along. She wore a flamboyantly colored robe that trailed gracefully on the floor, and a faint veil concealed her pure white hair. However, what immediately captured everyone’s attention was the intense gleam that shone from behind the veil.
Those who met her gaze felt their heads throb from the sheer intensity of that light and quickly averted their eyes, while others stoically endured the radiant scrutiny.
‘So this is the legendary Seven-Colored Mystic Eye…’ Lennok’s gaze deepened.
Among Mystic Eyes, the Seven-Colored Mystic Eye was renowned for its unparalleled power, ranking among the top-tier Mystic Eyes in terms of grade. It was said to possess the unique ability to discern everything about a person with a single glance. However, the mana emanating from her went beyond that description.
Even with her face veiled and her gaze concealed, the gleam of the Mystic Eye couldn’t possibly be limited to this.
‘It seems she has no intention of revealing herself in person.’ Lennok thought as he glanced outside.
It was evident that a massive display of public authority had been mobilized around the stadium. For the chairman to reveal her true identity in such a highly scrutinized event would place an undue burden on Cartel.
This also implied that the chairman genuinely desired to invite Lennok to this place for a dialogue.
Olivera, her radiant gaze still flowing from behind the veil, surveyed the crowd and spoke softly.
[Thank you all for being here today,] her magic resonated, filling the vast hall.
[It’s truly gratifying to see that all the relationships I’ve built over the years have not been in vain. Despite the decades passing by, our friendship remains unchanged.]
Silence filled the room.
“…….”
[There was a time when just confirming that was enough.] she continued calmly.
‘It’s hard to read…’ Lennok mused, his brow furrowing as he realized the complexity of her existence.
It was evident that she had appeared here through a method akin to avatars, but the precise manipulation of mana remained elusive.
Lennok, having attained a certain level of skill, wondered if he could partially conceal the flow from his sight.
If Lennok hadn’t experienced a revelation through a rare opportunity, he might not have even detected her magic.
[But as time passes, everything changes. We have entered an era where nothing that happens in this city would be surprising.]
‘It’s certain that she is artificially controlling the flow of mana through her Mystic eye. If I observe a little longer, I might understand…’
However, while understanding and analysis take time, it would be possible to unravel the secret given enough time.
A talent not confined by the disparity in realms. He simply understands and absorbs, regardless of who the opponent is.
Before Lennok could arrive at a definite conclusion, Olivera made her move.
[Today, I stand before you to show you evidence. Even a vow promising a century can scatter like a candle in the wind.]
“……!!”
Realizing her intent in gathering them, Lennok’s eyes widened.
Olivera began to walk, the sound of her robe brushing gently against the floor.
The heretical monk, who had kept his eyes closed, slowly lifted his head.
His lord, to whom he had remained loyal his entire life, regarded him with an apathetic countenance.
[McQueen. Do you have any last words?]
* * *
“…How cruel.”
McQueen uttered with a solemn tone.
“You already know what my answer will be.”
Indeed, there was no point in denying it at this juncture.
Everything had concluded the moment Girard Ojette was handed over to Virgil.
Virgil scanned the crowd, observing this scene with a grave demeanor.
Seated calmly, a sharp-featured, slender young man in a black coat glanced up at McQueen.
Although it was their first face-to-face encounter, he recognized him immediately.
The individual responsible for triggering his downfall.
He knew he was a gifted wizard.
A freelancer who had achieved fame by rapidly accumulating accomplishments.
That’s why he had been meticulously selected for this assignment.
Once Virgil redirected the focus of the Cartel’s Financial Planning Department towards the losses he had caused, embezzling the desired funds internally became an effortless task.
It was only later that he grasped the situation had spiraled out of control.
Upon capturing Girard, Lennok sensed the internal strife within the organization and attempted to negotiate with Virgil using this leverage.
Virgil promptly reported the traitor within to the chairman as soon as he was uncovered.
The moment he realized the chairman was aware of his betrayal, everything came to an end.
Even in the face of public humiliation before the masses, McQueen’s countenance remained devoid of emotion.
With a composed gaze, he surveyed the audience and eventually knelt before the chairman.
Boom!!
“I will not offer a pathetic excuse. However, I wish to personally rectify the mistakes I have made.”
[Interesting. You, who were always zealous in your duties more than anyone, say you won’t make excuses…]
“…….”
McQueen maintained silence in response to Olivera’s words, tinged with a subtle smile.
Her words cut through his true intentions like a knife.
Even in this dire circumstance, McQueen’s mind was in constant motion.
He had never considered relying on decades of loyalty as an option.
Survival in this predicament necessitated the elimination of Van, who was essentially the root cause of all the trouble.
It was a matter of methodically erasing the mistakes he had made.
[Then let’s do it this way.]
Olivera turned on her heel and returned to the center of the stage.
In a general assembly of thousands, she alone exerted her will with impunity, rendering the gathering’s original purpose almost irrelevant.
From beginning to end, everything unfolded according to her design. Everyone was aware of it.
[My old friend wishes to retire and return to a simpler life, and I don’t want to ignore his wishes. But, wouldn’t the discipline of the existing subsidiaries be disrupted if the hand that was guiding them is removed?]
“…….”
[I have prepared for such a moment and scouted talent in advance, so McQueen, you just need to hand over your responsibilities to him.]
Struck by an ominous thought, McQueen blurted out without thinking.
“That talent… could it possibly be…”
[There was a wizard who advised me right by my side, saying that our promise had become meaningless.]
The corners of Olivera’s mouth, visible beneath her veil, curved upward significantly.
[It seems Van would be fully qualified for that role.]
A chilling hush descended upon the convention hall.
The implication that Van would inherit the last duties of the traitor McQueen, in other words…
Wasn’t it tantamount to saying he would join the Cartel’s new executive board?
Only then did the Cartel’s executives comprehend the significance of her words and turned their heads in astonishment.
Lennok, aware of the surrounding gazes, subtly lowered his head.
Beneath his hair, his expression had already faintly creased.
‘She was aiming for this from the beginning.’
If the objective was to purge the factions that had betrayed the Cartel, there would have been no need for such an elaborate assembly in the first place.
The entire situation was merely a pretext to extend an invitation to Lennok with a plausible excuse.
Perhaps this was why Virgil had not contacted him separately until now, and why there had been no significant developments within the Cartel since Girard was handed over.
Olivera Ron Maze had made the decision to bring Lennok under her command upon learning of his abilities through Girard.
